Whether you access medical care under the NHS, or you pay for it privately, you expect at the very least that the tools used are suitable for the job and that those using them are doing so correctly. Unfortunately, there are occasions when this does not occur, and patients suffer unnecessarily as a result.

What is Medical Equipment Negligence?

Medical equipment is used in modern medicine every day, from hospitals and dentists, to care homes and diagnostic labs. It can refer to the machine that monitors a patient’s vital signs while they are under anaesthetic, to an ultrasound that scans soft tissue. All equipment should be maintained correctly, while those using it should be trained to a competent standard. Medical equipment negligence occurs when either or both of these do not happen. Examples can include:

Lack of regular servicing and adjustment, and irregular maintenance

Faulty monitors, including breathing sensors

Production faults

Unsterilised equipment

Medical equipment negligence can also relate to items like prosthetic joint and cosmetic implants, as well as devices like faulty contraceptive implants.

When claiming compensation for medical equipment negligence, the claimant has to prove either that the item was defective and caused them harm or injury when used correctly, or that the medical professional made an avoidable error when using the equipment. Responsibility is proven not only by looking at the circumstances surrounding your individual claim, but by evaluating the treatment you received with that against comparable facilities to see if it was of an acceptable industry standard.

For example, a patient suffered brain damage as the result of low oxygen levels while under general anaesthetic during a routine operation. The anaesthetist did not immediately notice the drop in the patient’s oxygen levels due to a fault in the monitor. The anaesthetist was found to be negligent as he did not adequately perform mandatory pre-operation checks of the equipment he was responsible for using. Compensation was awarded to the patient to help with the additional care he will require for the rest of his life.

How Can We Help?

Compensation claims involving failure of medical equipment are not always easy to validate, which is why you should enlist the support of solicitors with experience in this area such as The Medical Negligence Experts. It takes a skilled professional to be able to analyse the circumstances around your injury to determine whether they were the result of negligence and whether your claim has a good chance of success.

As the claimant, it is your role to demonstrate that your care was below an acceptable standard and that it directly resulted in your injury or illness. Obtaining evidence to prove this is easier the sooner your case is raised, which is one reason we always recommend clients seek professional legal advice at the earliest opportunity.

There is a time limit for making a claim for compensation so contact The Medical Negligence Experts today and find out more about how we can help you.

As every medical case is different, the amount of compensation paid out can differ. Varying factors lead to the final figure include: Level of negligence, earnings missed out on, future losses and more.

Our experienced team of experts will give you an indication of how much you could potentially claim.

We understand that when making a claim it’s important to know what to expect and when to expect it. That’s why we make the process as transparent as possible.

Your solicitor will gather all the evidence and will notify the negligent party of your claim against them. With your dedicated solicitor negotiating on your behalf, you will be kept up to date every step of the way.

Why should you use us?

No Win No Fee

We offer a No Win No Fee* service on all our claims - We assess each claim on its merits with the information provided, which aids us to determine its likely success rate. This takes the risk away from you.

Expert Solicitors

Our experienced solicitors are experts in securing compensation no matter the level of negligence.
We are committed to securing the best possible outcome for you, while providing friendly support every step of the way.

Personal Dedicated Solicitors

On contact, you will be allocated your own expert Medical Negligence solicitor who will be there every step of the way. You will be provided with a direct phone number and direct email address of your solicitor.

We specialise in helping victims of medical negligence claim the compensation they deserve.

We work on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning if we don’t win your case, you don’t pay! Once you make contact, your experienced solicitor will work to recover the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

Whether you are ready to make a medical negligence claim, or you would just like a free conversation with a legal professional, we have experts on hand to give you all the information you need. Take the first step to getting what you deserve by filling in our quick contact form and we will call you back whenever suits you.

The Medical Negligence Experts is the trading name of National Injury Claimline LTD. National Injury Claimline Ltd is regulated by the Claims Management Regulator in respect of regulated claims management activities. Authorisation Number: CRM42188. www.claimsregulation.gov.uk. *Conditions may apply